As of this year, the average cost of a car repair is approximately $397.87. If you are someone who always strives to keep your car in good shape, but the expenses can be challenging for your family’s budget, there is a great alternative. There are many repair and maintenance skills that you can learn to do at home. With a bit of information and learning, you can save your family a lot of money over the long-term. Discover three basic car maintenance skills you can easily learn to avoid paying top dollar at the mechanic.
Repairing damaged paint
The cost of touching up scratches or chips in your car’s paint at the body shop can quickly get pricey. Depending on the size and severity of the area that needs work, your bill is likely to start out around $150 (as reported by Angie’s List). Thankfully, most small touch-ups can be handled as a home project. Experts from Automotive Touch Up reviews state that these jobs do not require advanced skills, and can be done rather quickly. When you pick up DIY supplies for this specific task, there are specific tools that brands provide to help match your car’s paint color. Therefore, even if you have no expertise in painting cars, you can still achieve professional-quality results. 
Replace brake pads
Although it may sound a bit daunting at first, replacing your brake pads can be made into an afternoon DIY project. This is true even for those who are brand new to at-home vehicle maintenance. By simply paying for materials from a local car parts shop, you’ll avoid paying the cost of hours of labor at the mechanic. For those who do have prior experience working on cars, reading through online instructions that are specific to your make and model, as well as watching video tutorials, may be enough for you. However, if you have absolutely no experience in working on vehicles, it is best to work with an expert the first time around. You can either take an auto repair class nearby, or have a friend or family member teach you how to replace your vehicle’s brake pads.
Fix any minor chips in your windshield
Having a rock or another piece of small debris hit your windshield is a common, yet frustrating occurrence. Oftentimes, these objects cause a minor chip in the windshield. Although these chips are unsightly, they do not cause enough damage to require a full replacement. What many do not know is that this repair is a simple DIY project. Many major online retailers (e.g. Amazon) now sell inexpensive repair kits. By following the instructions included with these kits, you can have a windshield that looks as good as new.
This list is just a sample of the DIY car maintenance and repair projects that you can take on. Opting to do work on your vehicle at home could help you rack up a savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the long-term.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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